The Cleveland Browns released an allbatross from around their necks when they unloaded quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers. The deal was first reported by CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones.
Carolina sent a conditional fifth-round pick to Cleveland for Mayfield. The Panthers are responsible for just $5 million of Mayfield’s $18.5 million salary. Mayfield agreed to a $3.5 million base salary pay cut and Cleveland agreed to pay $10 of Mayfields salary. There are incentives in the new contract that would allow Mayfield to earn most of the $3.5 million back. That would be based on performance. In addition, Cleveland’s pick could turn into a fourth-round pick, based on Mayfield’s playing time.
Who were the winners and losers of this trade? Here’s what we think.
Carolina came out smelling like a rose
The Panthers received the former number-one overall draft pick for a meager fifth-round pick next year. Plus, they only have to pay $5 millions of Mayfield’s $18.5 million contract this year. Compare that to the eight-year, $320 million that Cleveland just paid to Mayfield’s heir apparent, Deshaun Watson. The 27-year old Mayfield will only have to compete with journeyman Sam Darnold for the starting job in Carolina.
Perennial loser Browns get short end of stick
There is still much uncertainty surrounding the Browns’ short-term situation under center. Watson was brought in to be the team’s Messiah and rewarded with the $40 million per year fully-guaranteed contract.
Watson has settled 20 of the 24 civil complaints he was facing. However just because a Houston grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges, the NFL is not required to be so lenient. The NFL was rumored to be pushing for an indefinite suspension, which would undoubtedly be at least a full season.
If the NFL gets its way, and wins in the appeal, the Browns will not have Watson or Mayfield for 2022. Jacoby Brissett would be the only quarterback left standing for the Browns. So, they would have a lifetime-backup at quarterback and will be paying $10.5 million of Carolina’s starting quarterback’s salary. And they only get back a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft. This is also Mayfield’s contract season, so he is free to leave and sign with any team in 2023.
Mayfield gets the starting job he wanted
After being the team’s starting quarterback for his first four years in the league, Mayfield was forced to request a trade out-of-town after Watson’s signing left it clear who would be their quarterback of the future. There was a chance that Cleveland would keep Mayfield for one last year, just in case Watson gets a full-season suspension. However, this deal eliminates the possibility of an awkward reconciliation.
Not only does he get out of Cleveland and will get paid his full contract for this year, Mayfield goes to a Carolina team with some potential. Runningback Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver D.J. Moore plus a revamped offensive line, featuring 2022 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu, should give the Panthers an edge on offense.
Seattle gets snuffed in Mayfield sweepstakes
Seattle was pegged as the other potential landing spot for Mayfield. After the Seahawks traded star quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver this past off-season, they were left with career backups Drew Lock and Geno Smith as their only candidates. Head coach Pete Carroll never lobbied publicly, but secretively he was yearning for the chance to get Mayfield. Now Seattle is left to duke it out in the most explosive division in the NFL, the AFC West, with only a couple of journeymen to rely on at the helm.
Brissett gets starting gig, possibly for season
With Mayfield out of the way and Watson left facing a possible long suspension, Jacob Brissett is set to start at quarterback. The 29-year-old signed a one year, $1.5 million contract with the Browns. If he plays well, Brissett could be up for an enhanced role, possibly as a starter, next year.
Darnold is odd man out in musical chairs
Darnold, a former first-round draft pick of the New York Jets, came to Carolina as their saviour in 2021. But the team struggled to a 4-7 record in his 11 starts. It appears his days as the starting quarterback in Carolina are over. Possibly his career as well.